Commodore’s Corner – May 2010 – Spring Sermon

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Greetings and salutations to the mates of the POYC. Spring sailing has arrived and it is once again time for the yearly reminders as to what makes the club run smoothly. I first received this list during the reign of the venerable, and now Emeritus, Commodore Bill Hatter; and have since added a few more. Remember – your momma doesn’t live here so…

  1. If you mess it up – clean it up.
  2. If you use it up – replace it. You will be reimbursed.
  3. All members with boats in the yard are expected to mow the areas around their boats and keep them ship shape.
  4. NEVER block another mates boat trailer!
  5. If you appear to be the last one on the property please be sure to lock the heads and shed as well as turn off any lights.
  6. NEVER leave your boat unattended on the inside of the first dock. This side is for launching/retrieval only.
  7. When leaving your boat on the dock ALWAYS springline your boat; please do not broadside.
  8. ALWAYS place an adequate fender on the dock at the bow of your boat. We have just retired the debt on the dock and want them to last as long as possible. Boats abrading the plastic are a serious issue where the docks are concerned. It is the responsibility of the captain to check on his/her boat frequently to insure proper dockage.
  9. POYC Regattas require room on the dock. If you are not racing PLEASE remove your boat from the dock prior to the race.

Which brings me to the last situation of boats left on the dock, sometimes unsailed, for weeks. Older members will remember the standing Corps of Engineers rule that we were only allowed to keep boats on the dock overnite from Friday to Sunday. They have cut us some slack the last few years but we have certainly pushed it. Last year we adopted a gentleman’s agreement of first on – first off. It is not fair to your mates to continually occupy a slot on the dock and make it unable for another to pick up a spot. The dock is not a storage facility therefore if you are not sailing and the dock is full – Please get your boat off the dock!
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind all mates of some upcoming events. May 14th will find us at our monthly meeting with the potluck at 6PM (Bring a side dish/dessert) and meeting at 7PM.
The Blessing of the Fleet will follow on Saturday May 15th at 11am; also a sailing day for sailing school. For those who have not attended in past years the Blessing is an annual event in which we ask for divine guidance to insure the safety of all sailors. We will wrap up May by kicking off the racing season with the Huddleston Cup Regatta on the 29th and 30th. So as you may surmise the action is cranking up at the POYC.
I hope to see more sailors on the water this season, so get these dates down on the calendar and make plans to join your mates. See you on the water!

Bill

The Racing Corner – The Start by Doug Roberts

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The Start
The start of a sailboat race is one of the most exciting and demanding moments in a sailboat race. A good finish requires a good start. A good start requires judgment, timing, teamwork, and full understanding of how your boat will react in the existing wind conditions. It requires an understanding of wind and weather; and knowledge of strategy, tactics, and rules. Starts demand dexterity at close quarters, maneuvering and the ability to stay cool and concentrate in an environment packed with distractions. One of the keys to a good start is to ensure it sets you up well for the first leg of the race. Think through your strategy to rounding the first mark.
There are two basic approaches, follow the fleet or take a contrarian course.
1. Following the fleet you will ensure that you receive the same advantages of wind puffs and disadvantages of the lulls as the rest of the fleet. You will also have to guard against being in the wind shadow of another boat when following the fleet. Most of the times the fleet will start on a starboard tack which gives each of them the right of way over those on the contrarian start tack.
2. The contrarian start generally will start on a port tack and place you on a tack for a longer run before you tack, and that may mean a longer distance to the first mark. You will be dependent on a different set of advantages of wind puffs and disadvantages of the lulls as the rest of the fleet, which may or may not favor you. You are generally not affected by the wind shadow of other boats on this start. It could set you up for a longer run on a starboard tack with more speed as you approach the first mark.

Rounding the mark
 It is often better to come into the mark wide and exit the mark tight. Remember if you are overlapped by a boat on your inside in the three length zone around the mark, you must give room to that boat to round the mark. Likewise if you are coming in wide and fast it is very possible that you can overlap a boat and cause that boat to alter its course to allow you room on the inside.

There are several copies of a Racing Tactics DVD in the shed at the club. You are welcome to borrow a copy of the DVD, but please be kind and return it within two weeks.

To help racing sailors get familiar with the Racing Rules of Sailing, UK-Halsey Sailmakers presents a series of animated race course situations http://www.ukhalsey.com/RulesQuiz/quiz_list.asp

A new regatta is added to the schedule this year. A long distance race will be held on June 19. This will be a little more relaxed race with longer legs of the race. Come out and join the fun.
The Jolly Roger Regatta – Approximate Course – June 19, 2010

Doug Roberts – Racing Chair

Summer Sailstice June 19, 2010

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Summer Sailstice is a global holiday celebrating sailing held annually on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice, the longest sailing days of the year.

Its easy to participate in Summer Sailstice and its free! Summer Sailstice participants simply register, go sailing and automatically become eligible to win one of over 400 prizes from our supporters, from a yacht charter with The Moorings to sailing gear your favorite marine suppliers.

Summer Sailstice

Connie Polk and several of our members do this every year.

The Challenge of Racing – by Doug Roberts, Racing Chairman

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Racing Corner Month 5
The challenge of sailing is to get your boat to go from point A to point B, even when the wind will not cooperate. Racing helps force you to learn how to get your boat from point A to point B to point C in as short of a period possible. The fastest way to learn new skills is by following a better racer (and it is great way to place in the race). These guys are often better for a reason, and there is much to learn. Follow them, figure out why they went the way they did, or why they didn’t do what you would have done. If you can’t figure it out on your own, ask them after the race. Most of the club members are happy to share tips with more than just a quick answer. Many times, when a person begins to race, they will follow a faster boat and finish second or third. However, for some reason this stops, and they drop back in the fleet. It may be that “beginner’s luck” runs out. But, more than likely, they just stop following faster racers.

More definitions

Finish – A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the direction from the last mark either for the first time or, if she takes a penalty, after complying with rule 31.2 or rule 44.2.

Obstruction – An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly toward it and one of her hull lengths from it. An object that can be safely passed on only one side and an area so designated by the sailing instructions are also obstructions. However, a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her or give her room.

Proper Course – A “proper course” is one the boat would sail to finish as quickly as possible. Since different sailors often have different ideas of the quickest route to get to the finish line there can be more than one proper course for a boat at any particular point in time. Thus, two boats sailing side by side may have different proper courses because of differing views on how best to get to the finish line as quickly as possible.

A boat has right of way when another boat is required to keep clear. The following rules cover some special situations where a boat must keep clear.

  • If you cross the starting line too soon before the start, you have to go back behind the line and start again. While going back, you have to keep clear of all boats that have started (Racing Rule 20).
  • If you hit a mark while racing, you must take a penalty as soon as possible by doing one 360-degree circle (Racing Rule 31). While doing your penalty circle, you must stay clear of all other boats.
  • If you foul another boat while racing, you must take a penalty as soon as possible by doing two 360-degree circles, or turning 720 degrees (Racing Rule 44). While doing your two penalty circles, you must stay clear of all other boats.

Racing Rule 14 – Avoiding Contact You must avoid contact with other boats if possible. Even if your boat has right of way you must avoid contact, but you don’t need to act until it becomes obvious that the other boat is not going to keep clear.

POYC Racing Rule 2010 – Have fun and learn while racing. This is the year to commit to having fun with your boat or one of the club boats and race. Club racing is meant to be fun and help develop skills and that will be the focus of the race program this year. If you don’t feel comfortable racing your own boat, come on out to the club on race day. Many racers are always glad to have crew aboard on race day. Come out to the club on race morning and it is guaranteed you will be asked to either crew on a boat or work the committee boat.

Now you are ready to start racing. But if you want that extra little boost of confidence, come out for the introduction to sailboat racing class May 13.  We will talk about the rules, the marks, as well as racing strategies and tactics with some of the best racers in the club. In the mean time here is a great link to learn more about racing http://www.racing.sailingcourse.com/index.html